Contents

Federal Resources

For some guidelines for preparing an overall preparedness plan, see, for example, FEMA's Guide for All-Hazard Emergency Operations Planning. (PDF document) While the focus of this document is planning for natural and other disasters (floods, earthquakes), it does emphasize the importance of working with other governmental agencies and knowing about state-specific laws regarding some aspects of a response plan.

For guidance on pandemic planning, specifically, see PandemicFlu.gov -- "One-stop access to U.S. Government avian and pandemic flu information." Managed by the Department of Health and Human Services. Specifically, see Community Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Mitigation. "Interim planning guidance for State, territorial, tribal and local communities that focuses on several measures other than vaccination and drug treatment that might be useful during an influenza pandemic to reduce its harm."

State and Local Resources

CT Flu Watch from the State of Connecticut Pandemic Flu Task Force. The March 26, 2007 State Librarian's Report includes the Library's response to a statewide test of agency Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP) for a simulated pandemic influenza outbreak, conducted by the State of Connecticut on February 27, 2007.

King County (Washington) Public Health has prepared a comprehensive website on Pandemic Flu Preparedness. The site includes the King County response plan, as well as informational links to a range of other topics.

Other

Topics to include in an individual library policyâafter being sure these are consistent with the plans by the larger jurisdictionâinclude:

Criteria for closing the library

Employee policies for sick leave, payroll and banking/financial issues, working from home

Mandated documentation of procedures or cross training so others can take over for sick employees.

Policies for âsocial distancingâ â that is removing a number of chairs so people aren't sitting close to each other, or limiting the number of people who can come in at any one time, or taking out coat racks, and similar things that keep people and their belongings separate from each other.

Criteria for suspending story times and other library programs.

Provision of masks and gloves along with the training of staff iin their removal and disposal.

Standards for the cleaning of bathrooms, railings and door knobs, telephones, keyboards, counters, and cleaning of workstations/offices of employees who go home sick, emptying of wastebaskets, etc. etc. etc.

Setting a schedule for seeing to the critical needs of the facility if the library is closed for an extended time (boiler and building checks by custodians, book drop, payroll and banking considerations).

Communications plan for reaching staff and for communicating with the public

Means for continuing to provide information services for the public, such as online ordering of materials and pick up from a table in the lobby at certain times, or expansion of online services

Accommodation of the needs of poor people in the community who may not have a home subscription to the local newspaper or a working home computer